Means for forming ice cubes



3% 193% LANGE BEANS FOR FORMING ICE CUBES Filed June 27. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l amen W130.

Jan. 36 lggan a LANGE 1,945,23@

MEANS FOR FORMING ICE CUBES Filed June 27, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 3%11934. G. LANGE MEANS FOR FORMING ICE CUBES Filed June 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jam. 3Q, 1934: 3 LANGE I LQESZBQ) MEANS FOR FORMING ICE CUBES Filed June 27. 1951 iSheets-Sheet 4 \q HHI'II I '1' 1'!!! w: 1W l lhl" Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,945,230 MEANS FOR FORMING ICE CUBES George Lange, Rockville Center, N. Y. Application June 27, 1931. Serial No. 547,349 9 Claims. (01. 62-1085) This invention relates to an apparatus whereby large quantities of ice cubes can be produced at one operation, the cubes being formed ,with central recesses of any desired configurations whereby the produced articles, when made of clear ice, will sparkle and present an attractive appearance.

A further object is to provide an apparatus by means of which cubes of any desired length [0 and thickness can be formed.

' Another object is to produce cubes without requiring the use of molds for holdingseparated bodies of water to be frozen.

A still further object is to-release the cubes from their forming means in a new and novel manner and to provide a simple and efficient means for gathering and delivering the articles ,when released.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and steps of the method herein-' after more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that the invenof the claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the accompanying drawings the form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, part being broken away.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figural.

Figure 3 a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 isflan enlarged section on line 4-4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the freezinge ments and adjacent parts. Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6, Figure 5. .Figure 7 is a section on line 77, Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a cube produced by the apparatus.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9, Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view like Figure 6 showing a modified form of freezing element.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a shallow pan mounted on a suitable supporting structure 2 and divided by a partition 3 so as to form a continuous channel in which a circulation of water can be maintained by a propeller 4. The partition is provided with a coarse screen or grille 5 at one end and adjacent to this screen is an extension 6 of the pan.

55 In the bottom portion of the pan 1 are coils preferred tion is susceptible of changes within the scope 7 for holding brine or other refrigerant and a water supply pipe 8 opens into the pan and. has a float controlled valve 9 for shutting off the flow to the pan. An outlet pipe 10 extends from the pan and swiveled thereon is an overflow tube 11 which can extend upwardly at any desired angle between adjustable stops 12. Obviously by adjusting this tube' angularly the normal level of water in the pan can be controlled.

Tiltably mounted in the pan extension 6 is a 05 foraminous basket 13 having an open top and end. This basket normally rests on the bottom of extension 6 as shown by full lines in Figure3. Any suitable means, such as acrank 14 or the like, can be used for swinging the basket 7 about its pivotal connection 15 so as to deliver its contents to a chute 16 or other structure provided therefor.

A drain 17 is provided in the bottom of the pan for quick emptying thereof. This is normally 76 closed.

Overlying pan 1 at opposite sides of partition I 3 are brine coils providing lower or brine inlet pipes 18 and upper or brine outlet pipes 19.

All of these pipes are embedded in insulation indicated at 20. The inlet pipes are connected by headers 21 into one of which opens a brine feed pipe 22. The outlet or upper pipes 19 are connected by headers 23 from one of which is extended a brine discharge pipe 24.

Depending from the lower orinlet pipes 18 are tubular drop legs 25 closed at their lower ends and made of any desired cross-sectional contour. In Figure 6 the drop leg 25 has been shown hexagonal while in Figure 10 the drop leg 26 is cylindrical. As before indicated, however, other shapes may be provided.

Suspended within each' drop leg is a return pipe 27 opening at its lower end into the drop leg and at its upper end into one of the outlet pipes 19. A removable clean-out plug 28 ispreferably located above each return pipe.

Not only are the pipes 18 and 19 and their headers embedded in insulation but the walls and bottom of pan 1 are alsosheathed in insulating material as indicated at 29. This material is preferably cork.

The pan 1 is supplied with fresh water which will rise to a. desired level where it will be maintained by the float controlled valve. The lower end portions of theldrop legs will extend into the water a distance depending upon the length of the cubes to be produced.

The brine in coils 7 will maintain the water in the pan as close as possible to 32 F. so as to facili- 11o means for lowering the water to tate formation of the cubes. This cold water will be circulated around the partition 3 by propeller 4 in the direction indicated'by the arrows in Figure 1.

Brine is circulated through thecenter freeze elements formed by the drop legs 25 and return pipes 2'1 and as the water flows past and around these elements it will build up a jacket of ice on each element the thickness of which will depend upon the time allotted to the operation. The outer surface of each .cube thus produced usually. rounds oif while an inner surface will be produced corresponding with the. contour of the drop leg.

After the cubes have been built up to the desired size the tube 11 is swung laterally to drop the water level and the temperature of the brine in pipes 18 and 19 is raised. The formed cubes will thus slip from drop into the water, and be carried by the circulating water toward the screen 5. There they will pile up in the basket 13 and by swinging the basket upwardly the cubes can be delivered to the chute 16. A baffle 30 can be provided in the pan to guide the cubes as they travel with the current.

After the foregoing/operation the water level can be raised,"the freezing temperature of the brine in pipes 18 and 19 can be restored and the process repeated.

Cubes produced as described ,will be clear and sparkling or crystal-like and constitute very attractive articles. This is due to the fact that the walls of the recesses in the clear cubes will be refracted to a greater extent than should solid cubes be formed.

' What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming ice cubes including a container for holding a body of water, freezing elements adapted to hang in the water, connections for the circulation of a refrigerant in said elements at one temperature to build up a jacket of ice on each element and at a higher temperature to release the jackets from the elements, and a level below said elements to receive and support the released jackets.

2. Apparatus for forming ice cubes including a containerfor holding a body of water, a plurality of freezing elements adapted to hang in the water, connections for the circulation of a refrigerant in said elements at one temperature to build up an unconfined jacket of ice on each element and at a higher temperature to release the jackets from the elements, and means whereby all of said elements are simultaneously freed from the water and the jackets of ice are supported above the surface of the water, whereby said elements, when subjected to the action of the refrigerant at a high temperature, will release the jackets of ice for gravitation onto the surface of the water.

3. Apparatus for forming ice cubes including a pan for holding a body of water, freezing elements adapted to hang in the water, connections for the circulation of a refrigerant in said elements at one temperature to build up a jacket of ice on each element and at a higher temperature to release the jackets from the elements, and means for separating said elements and the body of water to deliver the elements to the body of water, said means including an adjustable overflow.

4. Apparatus for forming ice cubes including the center freeze elements,

released jackets from the freezing apan for holding a body of water, freezing elements suspended in the pan and normally extended into the water, connections for directing a refrigerant into said elements at one temperature to buildup ice jackets thereon and at a higher temperature to relase the jackets, and means for lowering the level of the water to separate it from the elements and receive the jackets when released- 5. Apparatus for forming ice cubes including a pan for holding a body of water, freezing elements suspended inthe pan and normally extended into the water, connections for directing a refrigerant into said elements at one temperature to build up ice jackets thereon and at a higher temperature to release the jackets, and means for lowering the level of the water to separate it from the elements and receive thejackets when released, said means including an overflow adjustable to different elevations.

6. Apparatus for forming ice cubes including a pan for holding a body of water, freezing elements suspended in the pan and normally extended into the water, connections for directing a refrigerant into said elements at one temperature to build up ice jackets thereon and at a higher temperature to release the jackets, means for lowering the level of the water to separate it from the elements and receive the jackets when released, means for setting up a circulation of the water to convey the released jackets therewith, and foraminous means intersecting the water current for limiting the movement of the jackets therewith.

'7. Apparatus for forming ice cubes including 119 a pan for holding a body of water, freezing elements suspended in-the pan and normally extended into the water, connections for directing a refrigerant into said elements at one tempera-v ture to build up ice jackets thereon and at a higher temperature to release the jackets, means for lowering the level of the water to separate it from the elements and receive the jackets when released, means for setting up a circulation of the water to convey the released jackets there- 120 with, foraminous means intersecting the water current for limiting the movement of the jackets therewith, means adjacent to the limiting means for receiving the jackets, and means for actuating said receiving means to deliver the jackets from the pan.

8. Apparatus for forming ice cubes including a water container, tubular drop legs extending thereinto' and closed at their lower ends, return pipes opening into and housed within the drop legs, means for supplying a refrigerant to the drop legs, means for conducting refrigerant from the return pipes, and means for changing the level of the water to partly submerge the drop legs and subsequently separate the drop legs and water.

9. Apparatus for forming ice cubes including a water container, upper and lower inlet and outlet pipes thereabove for a circulating refrigerant, tubular drop legs closed at their lower ends and depending from ,the inlet pipes, return pipes within the drop legs and depending from the outlet pipes, said drop legs extending below the level of thewater in the container, and means for changing the level of the water relative to the drop legs to separate the legs and water.

. GEORGE LANGE. 

